Here is some current news about the Yellowstone wolves. First, some good news for the stranded pups of no. 16. She has crossed southwestward, back over the Gallatin Range to Daly Creek (extreme NW corner of the Park). This raises the probability that she will eventually be reunited with all her living pups. One of her pups, no. 108, was struck and killed by a vehicle last week on U.S. Highway 191.
Secondly, the Druid Creek pack has been making forays southward into the Pelican Valley. This is new territory for them. Folks might remember that this is where the Crystal Creek Pack retreated after being decimated by the aggressive Druids. Crystal Creek has since grown back from just a pair to at least four wolves, but the Druids are now reinforced with five pups and the return of number 39F -- the "white wolf."
Thirdly, #27F, #37F, #29M, #67F, #70M, and #72M, and presumably #37's three pups have moved just west of the Daly Creek area. This "group" (will it be called the "Nez Perce Pack"?) was previously located in the Hayden Valley area which is a considerable distance to the southeast. Will this pack come in conflict with no.16 and her attempt to reunite with her pups or with the Chief Joseph Pack? Will they conflict with number 33F and 34M who seem to be raising the pups of dead number 17.
It should be noted that nos. 67, 70, and 72 are three Sawtooth yearlings that have not gotten into trouble and have a better chance to survive and contribute a new factor into the Yellowstone wolf gene pool. Number 70 is the Sawtooth yearling that has remained the most closely associated with this new pack. Five Sawtooth yearlings are dead now, and nos. 63F and 65F have not been located for a while.
I should note that from the standpoint of Yellowstone wolf genetic diversity, if there is to be conflict between the two, the Nez Perce Pack would probably get the nod. Number 16's and 17's pups have the genes of number 9F, the prolific Rose Creek female. They do, however, have the genes of no. 34M, which had not been expressed until this year.
Wolf watching in the Park has not been very good lately with Rose Creek still up on the Buffalo Plateau and this year's "stars", the Druids, spending part of their time in the Pelican (they do still return to the Soda Butte Creek and Lamar Valley area).
With the sudden growth of wolf numbers in the NW part of Yellowstone Park, perhaps it will become the new place to look for wolves.